Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code

Part II: Definitions

The following selected terms are defined in an effort to facilitate a more thorough understanding of The Student Code. This list is not intended to be a complete list of all the terms referenced in The Student Code that might require interpretation or clarification. The Director of Community Standards or designee shall make the final determination on the definition of any term found in The Student Code.

1. “Accused Student” means any student accused of violating The Student Code.
2. “Administrative Hearing Officer” or “Student Conduct Officer” means a University official who is authorized to determine the appropriate resolution of an alleged violation of The Student Code, and/or to impose sanctions or affect other remedies as appropriate. Subject to the provision in this code, an Administrative Hearing Officer is vested with the authority to, among other duties, investigate a complaint of an alleged violation of The Student Code; decline to pursue a complaint; refer identified disputants to mediation or other appropriate resources; establish charges against a student; approve an administrative agreement developed with an Accused Student; conduct a hearing; impose sanctions; approve sanctions recommended by another Hearing Body, chair and/or advise a hearing board; and conduct an appellate review.
3. “Appellate Body” means any person or persons authorized by the Provost, Vice President for Student Affairs, or designee to conduct a review of a decision reached by a Hearing Body.
4. “Business day” means any day, Monday through Friday, that the University is open.
5. “Complainant” or “Complaining Party” means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated The Student Code. When a student believes that s/he has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes s/he has been a victim will have the same rights under The Student Code as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the University community submitted the charge itself.
6. “Consent” is an understandable exchange of affirmative words or actions, which indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent must be informed, freely and actively given. It is the responsibility of the initiator to obtain clear and affirmative responses at each stage of sexual involvement. The lack of a negative response is not consent. An individual who is intoxicated or incapacitated by drug and/or alcohol both voluntarily or involuntarily consumed may not give consent. Past consent of sexual activity does not imply ongoing future consent.
7. “Designee” refers to a staff or faculty member who has responsibility for implementing the student conduct process or administering the student conduct system, in part or in whole.
8. “Director of Community Standards” refers to that person in Student Affairs, designated by the Provost to be responsible for the overall coordination of the University student conduct system, including the development of policies, procedures, and education and training programs. The Director of Community Standards may serve as an Administrative Hearing Officer/Student Conduct Officer and chair or advise a hearing board.
9. “Hearing Advisor” means an Administrative Hearing Officer who observes a hearing board throughout the hearing and during the board’s private deliberations for the purpose of providing information and interpretations relative to the University student conduct system and The Student Code.
10. “Hearing Body” means one or more members of the University community authorized by the Director of Community Standards or designee to determine whether a student has violated The Student Code and to impose sanctions as warranted.
11. “Incident database” means the electronic database used to track an incident and the actions taken.
12. “Instructor” means any faculty member, teaching assistant, or any other person authorized by the University to provide educational services (e.g., teaching, research, or academic advising).
13. “May” is used in the permissive sense.
14. “Member of the University community” includes any person who is a student, instructor, or University official; any other person working for the University, either directly or indirectly (e.g., private enterprise on campus); or any person who resides on University premises. A person’s status in a particular situation shall be determined by the Director of Community Standards.
15. “Policy” is defined as the written regulations, standards, and student conduct expectations adopted by the University and found in, but not limited to, The Student Code; The On-Campus Housing Contract; the Policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs, the President’s Policy on Harassment; graduate and undergraduate catalogs; and other publicized University notices.
16. “Shall” and “Will” are used in the imperative sense.
17. “Student” means any person admitted, registered, enrolled, or attending any University course or University conducted program; any person admitted to the University who is on University premises or University-related premises for any purpose pertaining to his or her registration or enrollment.
18. “Student conduct file” means the printed/written file which may include but is not limited to incident report(s), correspondence, academic transcript, witness statements, and student conduct history.
19. “Student Organization” means an association or group of persons that has complied with the formal requirements for University recognition.
20. “Support person” means any person who accompanies an Accused Student, a Complainant, or a victim to a hearing for the limited purpose of providing support and guidance. A support person may not directly address the Hearing Body, question witnesses, or otherwise actively participate in the hearing process.
21. “University” means the University of Connecticut.
22. “University official” includes any person employed by the University to perform administrative, instructional, or professional duties.
23. “University premises” includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the University, either solely or in conjunction with another entity.